Elvira Moragas Cantarero facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blessed Elvira Moragas Cantarero OCD
Virgin, martyr
Born	(1881-01-08)8 January 1881 Lillo, Toledo, Kingdom of Spain
Died	15 August 1936(1936-08-15) (aged 55) Madrid, Second Spanish Republic
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	10 May 1998, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II
Feast	15 August
Attributes	Carmelite habit, crucifix
Patronage	Pharmacists

Elvira Moragas Cantarero was a brave Spanish nun. She was also known by her religious name, María Sagrario of Saint Louis Gonzaga. She was born on January 8, 1881, and died on August 15, 1936. She belonged to a group of nuns called the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.

Before becoming a nun, Elvira followed in her father's footsteps. She became one of the first women to work as a pharmacist in Spain. After her father passed away, she took over his business. Later, her brother took charge so Elvira could become a nun.

In the convent, Elvira became a leader. She was kind and protected the other nuns. When the Spanish Civil War began, she had to hide with another nun. She refused to stay with her brother because she wanted to keep her fellow nuns safe. Elvira was captured and later killed because she would not give information to her captors.

Because of her death, many people wanted her to be recognized as a saint. This process, called beatification, began in 1962. In 1998, Pope John Paul II officially beatified Elvira Moragas in Saint Peter's Square.

Her Life Story

Elvira Moragas Cantarero was born in Lillo, a town in Toledo, Spain, in 1881. She was the third of four children born to Ricardo Moragas and Isabel Cantarero. Her father was a pharmacist, just like his own father. Elvira's older sister, Sagrario, passed away in 1890.

In 1886, Elvira's family moved to Madrid. This happened because King Alfonso XIII asked her father to be a special advisor on medicines. They lived above their pharmacy store. Elvira became very interested in her father's work there. She decided she wanted to become a pharmacist too. People noticed how determined she was to reach her goal.

Elvira went to the San Fernando school and then to the Cardinal Cisneros Institute for high school. From 1900 to 1905, she attended college. In 1887, she received her Confirmation, an important religious ceremony.

Becoming a Pharmacist

Elvira was an excellent student and always got top grades. She finished her high school studies on June 29, 1889. In 1900, she made history by becoming one of the first women to study pharmacy at the university in Madrid. She earned her pharmacist's license on June 16, 1905.

When her father died in 1909, Elvira took over the family pharmacy business. She did this to support her mother and siblings. Her mother passed away in 1911. In 1915, her brother Ricardo also became a pharmacist. He then took over the business, which allowed Elvira to follow her dream of becoming a nun. Around this time, a priest named José María Rubio Peralta helped guide her spiritual journey.

Life in the Convent

On June 21, 1915, Elvira was accepted into the Saints Anne and Joseph convent in Madrid. This was her first step towards becoming a nun. On December 21, 1915, she received her nun's clothing and her new religious name, María Sagrario of Saint Louis Gonzaga.

She made her first promises as a nun on December 24, 1916. Then, on January 6, 1920, she made her final, lifelong promises. On April 18, 1927, she was chosen to be the prioress (the leader) of her convent. She held this important role until 1930. After that, she became the mistress of novices, teaching new nuns until 1936. On July 1, 1936, she was again chosen to be the prioress, a position she held until her death.

Her Final Days

On July 20, 1936, a large group of people attacked the convent. Elvira quickly helped her fellow nuns find safe places to hide. She herself sought shelter with another nun, Sister Teresa María, at Teresa's parents' home.

Around this time, Elvira's brother asked her to come live with him in a nearby village, where she would be safe. But Elvira refused. She said she had to stay and watch over her "sisters" (the other nuns).

On August 14, Elvira and her companion were arrested. During questioning, her captors demanded to know where the convent's valuable items were hidden. Elvira remained silent. Her silence made her questioners very angry. A militiaman gave her a piece of paper, and she wrote on it: "¡Viva Cristo Rey!" (Long live Christ the King!). This made the militiamen even angrier. They decided to kill her if she would not give them any information.

Elvira Moragas was taken to the San Isidro hermitage late in the evening on August 15. There, she was killed just before midnight.

Beatification Process

The process to recognize Elvira as a saint, called beatification, officially began in 1962 under Pope John XXIII. Once the process started, she was given the title of Servant of God. This means the Church was investigating her life for holiness.

The local investigation finished on February 15, 1965. Later, a special group in the Vatican, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, approved the findings on December 14, 1984. This group also approved her cause on January 21, 1997.

Pope John Paul II confirmed on March 8, 1997, that María Sagrario de San Luis Gonzaga had died in odium fidei. This Latin phrase means "in hatred of the faith," which means she was killed because of her strong religious beliefs. The Pope then led the beatification ceremony in Saint Peter's Square on May 10, 1998. A Discalced Carmelite named Romano Gambalunga is currently in charge of promoting her cause for sainthood.

Patronage

In 1998, the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, suggested that Blessed Elvira Moragas could be a special patron for Pharmacists. This idea came about when she was beatified.

See also

In Spanish: Elvira Moragas Cantarero para niños